The SPD is proposing to reduce the number of statutory health insurance funds as part of a proposed savings package. Christos Pantazis, the SPD parliamentary group’s health policy spokesman, stated to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Saturday editions) that “We do not need 93 statutory health insurance funds”. According to Pantazis, having fewer funds would result in less duplication of structures, increased efficiency, and a leaner administration, framing this as both an orderly and medically necessary reform. He argued that significantly reducing the number of funds is the correct and long-overdue step.
However, Pantazis cautioned that while this is an important measure, it is only one part of the solution, noting that it will not solve the overall financial challenges of statutory health insurance. He argued that the real expenditure pressure stems from various areas of care provision, rather than from administration itself. The SPD politician suggested that the focus must now shift to addressing the drivers of expenditure growth and tapping into efficiency potential. He concluded that sustainable stabilization of statutory health insurance, both financially and structurally, can only be achieved with this holistic approach.
In contrast, Federal Health Minister Nina Warken (CDU) has currently stated that she has no plans to reduce the number of funds. She has previously told the press that “this is a structural question that cannot be resolved in the short term” adding that not all statutory health insurance funds are comparable. Despite this, the minister announced that the Finance Commission will likely address this issue in its second report.